Register or air diffuser



Oct. 27, 1959 R. J. WALLERSTEDT REGISTER OR AIR DIFFUSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1957 ,7 INVENTOR. Mafia/0 J0me: WW/e/s/ed/ ATTOR/Yf).

United States Patent "ice iil REGISTER OR AIR DIFFUSER .iRichard? James Wallerstedt, Dowagiac, Mich, assignor to Premier. Furnace Company, Dowagiac, Mich.

. Apiilication February 18,1957, Serial No. 640,637

.12.Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates to'airregisters or diiiusers of the type tquite commonly designated as baseboard diffusers.

.zThernain "objects of-the invention are:

ZFirst; to provide anair register or diffuser which may .rbetvery::economically produced, at the'same' time is efii- :cienttand attractive in appearance and may be quickly insstalled .and-is adaptable to widely varying use condi- 'tions.

Second, to provide a'registerorditfuser' of this type provi'dedzwith3a damper for regulating the flow or discharge =which in .allipositions of'adjustment servesas a baflle' for vefiectiv'ely distributing the air throughout the -le'ng'th of :the register.

Third,ito provide a register or difius'er structure hav- .-.ing these :advantages which includes 'a' detachable front :panel :on which the damper mechanism 7 is -mounted to constitute: a unit and greatly facilitating the assembly of 1116113118 :and the installation thereof.

.Objects'relating to 'details and economies'of the invenrtion= will appear from the description" to'follow. "The inventi'onisxdefined' and pointed out in the claims.

. A preferredzembo'diment of the invention is illustrated in the/accompanying drawing; in which:

.Fig. 1 is 'a fragmentary front-perspective view of a register.embodyingmyinvention; the-relation of the register to .a .floor an'd :wall being conventionally illustrated.

Fig 2 1 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on a dineccorrespondingto broken 1ine' 2-2 ofFig. 3.

;Fig. '3 1 is a fragmentary view m longitudinal section' on asline'tcorresponding tobroken line 3- 3 of Fig. 2.

'Fig- 4 'isoaffragmentary' front elevational view illnstrat- :ing the :details of the damper operating mechanism.

' ,:Fig. :5 is a' fragmentary .front elevational "view of the register-with parts broken away to further 'illustrate the rdampenand its operating. mechanism.

Fig. :6 is :a fragmentary view in section on a line cor- =respondingto line 6-6 of -Fig. 4.

Fig 7tis.a fragmentary view of the inside of the front plate Land damper and operating mechanism.

Fig. i8 is aperspective 'view of the front panel and damper as an assembledunit.

fig. 9 is a'frag-mentary-rear perspective view of ceritain' of'thetpartsshown in Figs. Zand 8.

iFig. .10 is"a perspectiveview of the damper operating ;lever: supportand stop member.

:Inithe accompanying drawingl represents a floor, and .221 wall.

The-register or diifuser'o'f the embodiment'of-my infvention illustrated comprises a rear wall member 3, top wall member 4, bottom wall member 5 and front wall member 'fi. These parts aredesirably formed of a strip of sheet metal stock "folded longitudinally.

In the embodiment illustrated the front wall member 6 rearwardlyeinclined and is of substantially less height sthancthe rear wall member 3. The top wall member '4 is :of substantially less width than the bottom wall member 5 .and, :in the embodiment illustrated, terminates in an angled downwardly projecting llange 7.

2,999,982 Patented Oct. 27, 1959 The end-walls 8 have inturned border flanges 9 which '-are fittingly received within the rear, bottom, front and top'wall members and are secured thereto by screws, rivets -or-sp'ot welding, the securing means not being illustrated.

The end walls8 have Vshaped recesses 10' positioned atthe front edge of the top wall member. The bottom wall is provided with an opening 11 therein adaptedlto receive a flue or delivery pipe as is conventionally illustrated at 12.

Thebottom is:provided with adjustable sections -13 slidably mounted thereon and adapted to be-adjusted to closethat portion ofthe bottom or inlet opening not occupied by the inlet flue. Desirably a pair of these membars 13 are. p'rovided-soth'at the register may be variably :positionedre1ative"to the inletfiue which, of necessity,

must bepositio'ned in regardto structural requirements of the room or'building. When the register has-been-positioned relative to the inlet flue and the members 13 properly adjustedthey' are secured in their adjusted positions by'mea'ns of-the screws, indicated at 14. These screws also serve tosecure the register in its adjusted position as the screws pass through-the bottom wall member.

The front panel 15 is complementary to the front wall member 6 and its lower edge is arranged in overlapping relation to the upper edge thereof. The panel 15 is .providedwithshpports 16 disposed on the inner side-of the wall member'fi. The panel 15 is detachably secured to the end wall'members by'means of screws 17 and the :aforesaidsupported engagement of'the' lower edge of the panel with the front'wall member 6.

The upper edge '18 of the front-panel is spaced from the front-edge ofthe top wall toprovide an elongated slot-like discharge opening. -At'itsupper edge'thepan'el 15 is provided with-an inturned downturned: projecting flange like extension -19 "which terminates 'at its lower edge in a forwardly directed lip-like damper hinge-element :20.

The damper -21 is:pro'vided with'a rearwardly'.-projecting lip-like hinge element 22 on its upper edgefwhich is :in hinging' engage'ment with the hinge element 20. This -supportsthe=damperto swirig between the front and rear walls, its open. position being illustrated in full lines "in Fig.2 and its closed position by dotted lines.

.Thearigled-damper actuating lever designated by the One-arm of'the damper adjusting lever constitutes a finger piece 25 which projects above the 'front panel for convenience in manipulation .and'the other arm 26 is 'notched at 27 to engage the'rearwardly projectingear 23 mounted on the rear'side of the damper. member 29 is also mounted on the pivot bolt 24 and is 'provided with an adjustable stop 3tl coacting with the stop extension 31 of the adjusting lever to limit the The stop opening movement'of the damper and with the' stoP-SZ to limit the closing=movement thereof. The outwardly turned stop 32 has a'prong 321 on its outer 'end which engages in a hole 322 (see Fig. 7) providedtherefor-in thedownwardly turned'fiap 19 of the frontpanel. The

prong 321 together with the pivot 24 prevent the stop :me'mbe'r-29 from rotating so that the adjustable open stop 34) andthe non-adjusta'bleelose stop 32 are fixed relati'v'eto the front panel.

' ihe damper depends within the register in overhanging relation to the inlet and in all positions of adjustment ofth'e damper it serves as a bafile to defleEt or 3 distribute the air entering the register through the inlet throughout the length of the register.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated the damper is of angled section comprising a forwardly inclined upper position 33, that is, it is inclined relative to the intermediate portion 34 and a rearwardly inclined lower portion or section 35 which is rearwardly inclined relative to the intermediate section and terminates in a longitudinal flange 36 which closes against the rear wall when the damper is in fully closed position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

With this arrangement of parts the damper and its operating mechanism may be assembled on the front panel to constitute a unit therewith and the front panel readily installed on the wall unit.

This arrangement not only enables the economical manufacture of the parts but also enables rapid installation of the register and positioning relative to the inlet flue. The screws 14 for securing the members 13 also serve to secure the register in its proper installation to the floor and wall. The front panel with the damper parts assembled thereon are quickly installed and may be very being of substantially less width than the bottom member a and having a downwardly projecting rearwardly facing angled flange on its forward edge, the front wall member being rearwardly inclined and of substantially less height than the rear wall member, end walls secured to said wall members, the upper ends of said end walls having V-notches therein, a front wall panel disposed with its lower edge in overlapping detachable engagement with said front wall member and detachably secured to said end walls and having an inturned downwardly projecting flange on its upper edge terminating in a forwardly projecting lip constituting a hinge element, the upper edge of said front panel being spaced from the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated slot-like air discharge, one of said wall members having an inlet opening therein, a damper having a rearwardly projecting lip on its upper edge constituting a hinge element hingedly engaged with said hinge element of said front wall panel, and a damper actuating lever pivotally mounted on said downwardly projecting flange of said front wall panel with one end thereof projecting therefrom and constituting a finger piece, said damper having a rearwardly projecting arm engaged with the other end of said actuating lever.

2. An elongated air register comprising integral rear, top, bottom and front wall members, the top member being of substantially less width than the bottom member, the front wall member being rearwardly inclined and of substantially less height than the rear wall member, end walls secured to said wall members, a front wall panel disposed with its lower edge in overlapping detachable engagement with said front wall member and detachably secured to said end walls and having an inturned downwardly projecting flange on its upper edge terminating in a forwardly projecting lip constituting a hinge element, the upper edge of said front panel being spaced from the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith t0 define an elongated slot-like air discharge, one of said wall members having an inlet opening therein, a damper having a rearwardly projecting lip on its upper edge constttuting a hinge element hingedly engaged with said hinge element of said front wall panel, and a damper actuating lever pivotally mounted on said downwardly projecting flange of said front wall panel with one end thereof projecting therefrom and constituting a finger piece, said damper having a rearwardly projecting arm engaged with the other end of said actuating lever.

3. An elongated air register comprising rear, top, bot torn, and end wall members, the top wall member being of substantially less width than the bottom wall, a front wall panel detachably secured to said end walls and having an inturned downwardly projecting extension onlits upper edge provided with a forwardly projecting hinge element, the upper edge of said front panel being spaced from the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated slot-like air discharge opening for said register, one wall member having an inlet opening therein, a damper having a rearwardly projecting hinge element on its upper edge hingedly engaged with said hinge element of said front wall panel, and a damper actuating lever mounted on said downwardly projecting extension of said front wall panel and operatively.connected to said damper, said damper swingably depending between said front panel and said rear wall and being of angled cross section including a forwardly inclined upper section terminating in said hinge element of said damper, an intermediate section, and a lower section inclined rearwardly relative to said intermediate section.

4. An elongated air register comprising rear, top, bottom, and end wall members, the top wall member being of substantially less width than the bottom wall, a front wall panel detachably secured to said end walls and having an inturned downwardly projecting extension on its upper edge provided with a forwardly projecting hinge element, the upper edge of said front panel being spaced from the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated slot-like air discharge opening for said register, one wall member having an inlet opening therein, a damper having a rearwardly projecting hinge element on its upper edge hingedly engaged with said hinge element of said front Wall panel, and a damper actuating lever mounted on said downwardly projecting extension of said front wall panel and operatively connected to said damper, said damper swingablydepending between said front panel and said rear wall.

5. Anelongated air register comprising rear, top, bottom, front and end wall members constituting a unitary assembly, a rearwardly inclined front wall panel detachably secured to said assembly and disposed with its upper edge in spaced relation to the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated air discharge opening for the register, the bottom wall member having an air inlet opening therein, a damper extending lengthwise of and hingedly mounted at its upper edge on the inner side of said front wall panel to depend downwardly at the inner side thereof and with its lower edge above the inlet, the upper edge of said damper being closely adjacent to said front wall panel and below said discharge opening, said damper constituting a bafile positioned between said inlet and discharge in all positions of adjustment other than its fully closed position, said damper being of angled cross section and including a forwardly inclined upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section rearwardly inclined relative to said intermediate section and terminating in a rearwardly projecting flange engageable with the rear wall member when the damper is fully closed, stops limiting the opening and closing movement of the damper, the opening movement stop being adjustable, the lower end of the damper being in spaced relation to the front wall panel when engaged with said open position stop, and means for adjusting said damper on said front wall panel.

6. An elongated air register comprising rear, top, bottom, front and end wall members, a front wall panel disposed with its upper edge in spaced relation to the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated air discharge opening for the register,

the bottom wall member having an air inlet opening therein, a damper extending lengthwise of and hingedly mounted at its upper edge on the inner side of said front wall panel to depend downwardly at the inner side thereof and with its lower edge above the inlet, the upper edge of said damper being closely adjacent to said front wall panel and below said discharge opening, said damper constituting a baffle positioned between said inlet opening and said discharge opening in all positions of adjustment other than its fully closed position, said damper being of angled cross section and including a forwardly inclined upper section, an intermediate section and a lower section rearwardly inclined relative to said intermediate section and terminating in a reznwardly projecting flange engageable with the rear wall member when the damper is fully closed, and means for adjusting said damper on said front wall panel.

7. An elongated air register comprising rear, top, bottom, front and end wall members, a front wall panel disposed with its upper edge in spaced relation to the forward edge of said top wall and coacting therewith to de fine an elongated air discharge opening for the register, the bottom wall member having an air inlet opening therein, a damper extending lengthwise of and hingedly mounted at its upper edge on the inner side of said front wall panel to depend downwardly at the inner side thereof and with its upper edge below said discharge opening and its lower edge above the inlet opening, the upper edge of said damper being closely adjacent to said front wall panel preventing substantial circulation between the front panel and the damper, said damper constituting a baffie in all positions of adjustment other than its fully closed position, and means for adjusting said damper on said front wall panel.

8. An elongated air register comprising bottom, rear, front, end and top wall members, the top wall member projecting forwardly from the rear wall and terminating in spaced relation to the upper edge of the front wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated discharge opening for the register extending longitudinally from end to end thereof, said front wall having an inturned downwardly projecting extension on its upper edge provided with a hinge element at its lower edge disposed in a plane below said discharge opening, a damper having a hinge member on its upper edge hingedly engaged with said hinge element on said front wall member and swingably depending therefrom for swinging adjustment between the front and rear walls, one of said wall members having an air inlet opening disposed in a plane substantially spaced below the swinging edge of said damper in all positions of adjustment thereof, the damper in its fully open position being substantially spaced from the front wall and from said air inlet opening and constituting in that position a distributing baflie for the incoming air, and manually operated means for variably positioning said damper on its said hinge element and supporting it in adjusted position.

9. An elongated air register comprising bottom, rear, front, end and top wall members, the top wall member projecting forwardly from the rear wall and terminating in spaced relation to the upper edge of the front wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated discharge opening for the register extending longitudinally from end to end thereof, said front wall having an inturned downwardly projecting extension on its upper edge provided with a hinge element at its lower edge disposed in a plane below said discharge opening, a damper having a hinge member on its upper edge hingedly engaged with said hinge element on said front wall member and swingably depending therefrom for swinging adjustment between the front and rear walls, one of said wall members having an air inlet opening disposed in a plane substantially spaced below the swinging edge of said damper in all positions of adjustment thereof, and manually operated means for variably positioning said damper on its said hinge element and supporting it in adjusted position.

10. An elongated air register housing comprising bot tom, rear, front, end and top wall members, the top wall projecting foiwardly from the rear wall, and the forward edge thereof toward the upper edge of the front wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated discharge opening for the register, said front wall having a hinge element on its inner side disposed in a plane below said discharge opening, a damper having a hinge member on its upper edge coacting with said hinge element on said front wall member and swingably depending therefrom for swinging adjustment between the front and rear walls,

' there beingan air inlet opening to said housing disposed in a plane substantially spaced below the swinging edge of said damper in all positions of adjustment thereof, said damper in its fully open position being substantially spaced from the front wall and from said air inlet opening and constituting in that position a distributing bafiie for the incoming air, and manually operated means for variably positioning said damper on its said hinge element and supporting it in adjusted position.

11. An elongated air register housing comprising bottom, rear, front, end and top wall members, the top wall projecting forwardly from the rear wall and the forward edge thereof toward the upper edge of the front wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated discharge opening for the register, said front wall having a hinge element on its inner side disposed in a plane below said discharge opening, a damper having a hinge member on its upper edge coacting with said hinge element on said front wall member and swingably depending therefrom for swinging adjustment between the front and rear walls, there being an air inlet opening to said housing disposed in a plane substantially spaced below the swinging edge of said damper in all positions of adjustment thereof, and manually operated means for variably positioning said damper on its said hinge element and supporting it in adjusted position.

12. An elongated air register comprising bottom, rear, front and end wall members, and a top wall projecting forwardly from the rear wall member with its front edge in spaced relation to the top edge of the front wall and coacting therewith to define an elongated discharge opening for said register extending longitudinally thereof, said front wall member having an inturned downwardly projecting extension on its upper edge provided with a hinge element disposed in a plane below said discharge opening, and a damper extending from end to end of said discharge opening hingedly engaged with said hinge element on said front wall member and depending therefrom for swinging adjustment between said front and rear walls, one of said wall members having an air inlet opening therein disposed in a plane substantially below the swinging lower edge of the damper in all positions of adjustment thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,246,602 Schultz June 24, 1941 2,627,800 Brandes Feb. 10, 1953 2,731,903 Newton Jan. 24, 1956 2,771,833 Halliday Nov. 27, 1956 

